General Mills, Inc.

Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC

Intercontinental Great Brands LLC

Jamileh Lakkis

Bernhard H Van Lengerich

Barrie R Froseth

James R Borek

Susan J Pettigrew

Thomas M Jarl

Keith A Evenson

Steven C Robie

Daniel R Green

Steven J Leusner

Lily Leung

Young Kang

Daniel L Green

The present invention includes compositions for imparting a controlled-release sensation to the oral receptor areas of a user. The oral, controlled-release compositions include a sensate and a hydrated or swollen food-grade polymer which forms a matrix with the sensate. Sensates may include warming, cooling and/or tingling agents. Also included are oral delivery systems for the compositions, methods for preparing same, and methods for imparting and sustaining a desired sensation in the mouth and upper portion of the gastrointestinal tract of the user.

Sensate compositions and delivery systems therefor

The present invention includes compositions for imparting a controlled-release warming sensation to the oral receptor areas of a user. The oral, controlled-release warming compositions include a warming agent and a hydrated or swollen food-grade polymer which forms a matrix with the warming agent. Also included are oral delivery systems for the warming compositions, methods for preparing same, and methods for imparting and sustaining a warming sensation in the mouth and upper portion of the gastrointestinal tract of the user.

Warming compositions and delivery systems therefor

A stabilized emulsion is employed to produce shelf stable, controlled release, discrete, solid particles or pellets which contain an encapsulated and/or embedded component, such as a readily oxidizable component, such as omega-3 fatty acids. An oil encapsulant component which contains an active, sensitive encapsulant, dissolved and/or dispersed in an oil is admixed with an aqueous component and a film-forming component to form an emulsion. An antioxidant for prevention of oxidation of the active, sensitive encapsulant, and a film-softening component or plasticizer for the film-forming component may be included in the emulsion. The emulsion is stabilized by subjecting it to homogenization. The pellets are produced by first reducing the water content of the stabilized emulsion so that the film-forming component forms a film around the oil droplets and encapsulates the encapsulant. In embodiments of the invention, the water content of the homogenized emulsion may be reduced by spray-drying to produce a powder. In other embodiments of the invention, after homogenization, the water content of the emulsion may be reduced by admixing the emulsion with at least one matrix material to thereby encapsulate the film-coated oil droplets within the matrix material. After the water content of the emulsion is reduced, a protective coating is applied on the film-coated oil droplets to obtain pellets.

Encapsulation of sensitive components using pre-emulsification

Nutrient clusters for food products, such as for addition to Ready-To-Eat cereals, are made in the form of aggregates or clusters comprising a first particulate component; a nutrient powder blend, and sufficient binder to adhere the powder to the particulates. The nutrient clusters are in the form of pieces each weighing from about 0.3 to 5 g. and having a moisture content of about 2% to 10%. Such nutrient clusters are prepared by applying a liquid binder to the particulates to form sticky particulates, adding a powdered nutrient blend, and curing the mixtures to form hardened dried nutrient clusters. The nutrient cluster can contain 100% US recommended daily allowance of essential vitamins and minerals and can contain added macronutrients such as soy proteins, soluble fiber, and/or calcium in nutritionally dense form in as little as 5 to 15 g of nutrient clusters. The clusters find particular suitability for use in providing to-order customized cereal products in response to particular customer requirements for nutrition.

Nutrient clusters for food products and methods of preparation

Nutrient clusters for food products such as for addition to Ready-To-Eat cereals by providing, in a preferred form of the present invention, nutrient products such in the form of aggregates or clusters comprising a first particulate component; a nutrient powder blend, and sufficient binder to adhere the powder to the particulates. The nutrient clusters are in the form of pieces each weighing from about 0.3 to 5 g. and having a moisture content of about 2% to 10%. Disclosed are methods of preparing such nutrient clusters involving applying a liquid binder to the particulates to form sticky particulates, adding a powdered nutrient blend and curing the mixtures to form hardened dried nutrient clusters. The nutrient cluster can contain 100% US recommended daily allowance (&ldquo;USRDA&rdquo;) of essential vitamins and minerals and can contain added macronutrients such as soy proteins, soluble fiber, and/or calcium in nutritionally dense form in as little as 5 to 15 g of nutrient clusters. The clusters find particular suitability for use in providing to-order customized cereal products in response to particular customer requirements for nutrition.

A mineral or vitamin fortification ingredient which does not deleteriously affect palatability and appearance of foods is obtained by encapsulation of the mineral or vitamin in a grindable, glassy matrix composition. The glassy matrix composition includes an oligosaccharide, such as &bgr;-2-1 fructofuranose materials, preferably fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin, which not only forms a glassy matrix, but also beneficially increases the fiber content of the food. At least one edible oil is included in the encapsulating composition to prevent substantial adverse interaction between the mineral or vitamin encapsulant and the glass-forming oligosaccharide matrix material, and to achieve controlled release of the encapsulant from the glassy matrix.

Oligosaccharide encapsulated mineral and vitamin ingredients

A mineral or vitamin fortification ingredient which does not deleteriously affect palatability and appearance of foods is obtained by encapsulation of the mineral or vitamin in a grindable, glassy matrix composition. At least one edible oil is included in the encapsulating composition to prevent substantial adverse interaction between the mineral or vitamin encapsulant and the glass-forming matrix material, and to achieve controlled release of the encapsulant from the glassy matrix. The oil also reduces or eliminates the use of added water as a plasticizer thereby avoiding the need for substantial evaporation or drying to achieve a non-rubbery, grindable encapsulated ingredient. The oil assists in plasticizing the matrix material for extrudability and the prevention of undesirable browning or discoloration of the encapsulating matrix composition. The oil and the glassy matrix material provide a smooth mouthfeel and eliminate the rough, scratchy, gritty, dry, hard, or chalky mouthfeel associated with particulate or crystalline mineral sources. The fortification ingredient may be produced by melting the one or more glass-forming matrix components such as mono- or di-saccharides in the presence of optionally added water. The resulting melt may then be combined with an oil-slurried mineral and/or vitamin encapsulant and cooled to obtain a formable, pliable molten mass. The mass may be extruded and cut into pieces or pellets and cooled to obtain a grindable, glassy matrix which encapsulates the oil encapsulated mineral or vitamin. The encapsulated minerals and/or vitamins may be ground into a particulate composition such as a fine powder for direct incorporation into or for topical application onto foods such as ready-to-eat cereals, yogurt and fruit snacks.

Growing community of inventors

Morris Plains, NJ, United States of America

Jamileh Lakkis